Lexington, Ky. – An accomplished group of rising talent will compete at the 2019 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals, beginning with the West Coast edition of the competition, taking place September 20-21 at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. The East Coast edition will be held October 6-7 at the United States Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, N.J. An essential building block in the U.S. Show Jumping Athlete Pathway, more than 70 young athletes across both coasts will display their determination and abilities across four phases of competition vying for the top spot in the winners circle.
The phases will be split over two days; the first day of competition hosts Phases I and II. In Phase I, judges will look for the rider’s ability to effectively demonstrate several flatwork exercises and may request advanced flatwork such as shoulder-in, shoulder-out, haunches-in, and haunches-out. During Phase II, riders will apply the skills from the flat to a gymnastics course. The second day of competition hosts Phases III and IV. In Phase III, the riders will compete over a 1.15m jumper-style course with an open water jump, followed by Phase IV, the ride-off, in which the top four riders compete over a jumper course first with their own horses and then with each of their competitors’ horses.
“Just take it phase by phase and really focus your efforts on each one,” advises 2018 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - East Champion Daisy Farish. “Don’t get too caught up in your scores in each phase because it is easy to get down on an early poor score or something you didn’t want to happen, but it changes so much throughout the days.”
Each of the 2019 Finals competitors earned their qualification by performing consistently in Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search qualifying competitions throughout the year. The U.S. Jumping Talent Search Program has scouted several of the sport’s most prolific athletes, including Olympians Lauren Hough, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward, as well as other NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team athletes, Lillie Keenan, Richard, Spooner, and Jessica Springsteen, among others, playing a role in the development of their careers. Motivated to compete on the world stage like their predecessors, the 2018 Talent Search Finals champions understood the value of competing in the Finals.
“Knowing that [U.S. Youth Chef d’Equipe] DiAnn Langer and [key] people from [US Equestrian] take interest in the Finals, watch it, and the way they use the Finals as a [pathway] for those teams, made it very important for me to try to succeed there and [perform at my best] for them.”
With a goal of competing at the highest level of the sport, the Finals were a step in the right direction for Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West Champion Sophie Simpson.
“The Talent Search Finals are a good stepping stone for future goals because every part of the final teaches you discipline,” said Simpson. “From the flatwork to the last day of jumping the water, all these parts translate to the Grand Prix ring and the international stage of our sport.”
The judges of the Finals will serve dual roles, as both judges as well as course designers, with consultation from the USEF Talent Search Technical Delegate Anthony D’Ambrosio. Giving back to the program, Lillie Keenan, New York, N.Y., will judge during the West Coast competition, along with Wendy Peralta of Geneva, Fla. Sue Ashe and Molly Ashe Cawley both of Wellington, Fla., will judge the East Coast Final. The judges will take them through the gamut in an effort to prepare the aspiring talent for the demands of international competition.
Following competition on each coast, the West Coast champion will receive the Denali Memorial Perpetual Trophy, the champion’s trainer will earn the Leading Trainer Award, and the best horse will be given the Gulliver Trophy. On the East Coast, the French Leave Memorial Perpetual Trophy will be awarded to the champion, the Leading Trainer Award will be given to the champion’s trainer, and the Grappa Trophy will go to the best horse.
“It’s not a posing contest; it is a final that you have to ride and show your talent as a rider not just a poser. Also, don’t give up if one of your scores isn’t as high as you would like, it’s not over until it’s over and a lot can happen over the three rounds. So stay strong and keep fighting for those good rounds,” suggests Simpson.
The USEF Network will live stream all four phases of each Final, West and East.
Find out more information about the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals.
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The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.